First Assault Enters Early Access Today
Nexon's cyberpunk shooter First Assault enters Early Access today, at an entry fee of $4.99. Featuring familiar names from the iconic Ghost in the Shell franchise, players choose a character endowed with unique abilities, such as Batou's devastating rocket launcher or the Major's camouflage. And then plunge into science-fiction maps across a variety of game modes, from fast-paced Team Deathmatch to coordinated objective-focused Demolition.
Perhaps First Assault's distinguishing feature is the SkillSync system. Adding to the tactical coordination, players can share their abilities with teammates in their proximity. Don't don thermo-optics alone. Charge into a battle veiled with your teammates to surreptitiously assault your enemies and gain the upper-hand. Sharing abilities is a primary tactic, and paramount to effectively win the match. Playing as a lone wolf is not as rewarding as charging in together.
As players progress they will augment their characters with specialized perks, unlocking new modification chips at the end of a match. Choosing what augments to equip determines how to approach the battlefield, and adds subtle advantages such as faster weapon switching (to pop a cybernetic dome with your pistol when your rifle's clip has run dry). Beyond abilities players customize their weaponry with a warehouse of available upgrades, purchasing new mods with earned in-game currency.
First Assault launches with three game modes, but more are expected in the future. Classic team deathwatch pits players against each other in brutal fast-paced combat, where the team with the most kills at the end of the time limit wins. Terminal Conquest immerses you in Ghost in the Shell's universe by introducing the lumbering friendly giant the Tachikoma. Capturing strategically placed terminal points will call the robot to aid your team. And Demolition places one group of players on offense and the other on defense, where the objective is to plant or defend against a bomb. No respawns makes Demolition akin to a Counter Strike: Global Offensive match, where emphasis on teamwork and map familiarity will secure victory.
Early Access Packages:
Recruit Early Access Pack - $4.99
Provides beta access and exclusive MP-V5A Rare Tachikoma Weapon Skin. Available on Steam and the Nexon Launcher. (Value: $5.99)
Operative Early Access Pack - $9.99
Provides same content as Recruit pack, plus exclusive M4A1 Rare Tachikoma Weapon Skin and 2 100,000GP coupons* (in-game currency). Available exclusively on Steam. (Value: $19.99)
Specialist Early Access Pack - $14.99
Provides same content as Operative pack, plus 1 character unlock coupon and exclusive L118A-S1B Rare Tachikoma Weapon Skin. Available exclusively on Steam. (Value: $35.98)
Elite Early Access Pack - $29.99
Provides same content as Specialist pack, plus 1 character unlock coupon (total of 2), exclusive Motoko Rare Character Skin and 2 500,000GP coupons* (800,000 more than Operative and Specialist packs). Available on Steam and the Nexon Launcher. (Value: $83.94)
I did have a chance to test out the game with the MMOs.com crew. And we had quite a bit of fun. Our test period was limited so it's unfair of me to pass any final judgment. But First Assault has potential, offering features such as the Skillsync System to stand out amidst the overcrowded FPS arena. And the Ghost in the Shell franchise serves as a strong support to bolster the game. It's gameplay is fast-paced and the roster of abilities makes for enough gameplay variation that switching between characters refreshes what might become stale otherwise (if you have unlocked the character). We'll be playing quite a bit.
Head to the Steam Store page to jump into the game. And stay tuned to the MMOs.com channel for gameplay coverage!
